Patronage has long been associated with politicians and political parties. It appears that this is certainly holding up, especially regarding the recent appointments of the loyalists, surrogates, cyber-warriors, and militants of the Tactical Alliance Government of President Adama Barrow in anticipation of and preparation for the next Presidential and General Elections in either 2019 or 2021 respectively.
Political patronage or spoils system jobs are used by certain politicians who, after winning an election, give government jobs within the civil service and diplomatic service, award mega contracts, and issue diplomatic and service passports to supporters, friends, and relatives as a reward for working toward victory and as an incentive to keep working for these politicians to retain their office.
The appointment of political party militants, surrogates, and supporters of the Tactical Alliance Government of President Barrow, including those who are specialists in social political blotting, media fundamentalism, and political propaganda, is the unstated declaration of the opening of the 2019 or 2021 Presidential and General Elections. Since most Gambians do not pay attention to the political trends, they are easily startled and surprised by these things, including those that have done nothing to unfollow their ‘fixed’ laws and timing.
Political patronage rewards party loyalists and militants with attractive, high paying jobs in both the civil service and the diplomatic service. However, most of these appointees are recruited for an exercise or job they know nothing about or have any competency or experience in. Ordinarily, they will not be told what they are being recruited to do and most will not discern this at all but overall job description, job specification and terms of employment will be centered around political propaganda and reward.
These political party loyalists or militants are recruited under a contract of MADR (mutually assured destructive ‘reaction’), for 2019 or 2021 electoral and political scheming! Similarly, because of NCFA (no clear future ambition) and PFAA (possible future appointment as an aide), they will (in anticipation and aspiring anticipation for those who do not enjoy patronage yet) work round the clock – dig, fight, and drag anyone into the mud – to receive similar ‘rewards’.
In the next few weeks and months, these appointees will be handed down scripts that are not really in consonance with their designations. For instance, they will rove social media platforms to mob and unleash cyber militancy or act as bullies against those who dare take to ‘contrarian escapades’.
It will be a big show. Other opposition politicians and activists will suffer rebukes and literary mortal combat. The sudden surge in the temperature of social media weather recently is a signal of the new vigor.
But this is not the concern. The most important note to take out of it is that it marks, officially or unofficially, the opening of the 2019 or 2021 political campaign in preparation for the Presidential and General Elections.
African politics, elections for the next General Elections, starts right after the victory speech: the transition committee, first appointments, and setting up of cabinets. Aides, surrogates, foot-soldiers, and political pit bulls are ‘remembered’ as deserving ‘reward’, which ordinarily comes around this time.
Because these natural developments are not stated or written down, incumbents always beat their opposition in terms of preparation. By the time the opposition gets its senses and starts, incumbents have already dominated the political machinery to the exclusion of almost everyone.
Most Gambian politicians do not play politics according to the rules of the game. Political space is narrowed to those who have no business in politics. Politicians across party affiliations and divides are appealing to the other party in power. Most do not play principled politics in the struggle to control, dominate, and exploit public office. Then, it is beyond speculation that the rewards after victory are usually based on political loyalty, commitment, and patronage! It goes without saying that those that made heavy sacrifices are left out.
Alagie YORRO Jallow,
What an educative and thoughtful disertation. You are right there, high on my list! The elimination of the Third Hitler Reich didn’t stop the Germans from coming to the throats of Hitler’s successors when they committed excesses. Let the Barrow supporters tell him the excesses he is committing!
The LEARNED should preserve the truth and spread the word at all cost.
This article reminds of the pseudo-learned MADI JOBARTEH, NJUNDU DRAMMEH and some other on-line contributors who at one time called for the unconstitutional/undemocratic disbanding of the APRC and villified the presence of Kandeh’s GDC in our political arena.
It surprises one to observe, the intensity/audacity and crude pomposity of some of our “learned” fellows in their weird attempts to curb basic democratic rights and dispensation.
I’ll always follow your contributions!
Babu Soli
From your own mouth ”The learned should preserve the truth and spread the word at all cost” The learned shouldn’t also looked the other way when it comes to financial malpractices of Jammeh and his evil cohorts. How can you dismiss the ugly revelations at the commission, the excesses of Jammeh, his total disregard of due processes of the law, his dodgy dealings with foreigners to rob our nation of its dwindling resources, the plight of the disappeared and the mess he left behind from the broken healthcare system, disgraceful state of our nation’s infrastructure, a joke judiciary, tribalized workforce, rampant corruption in all sectors of governance and finally our institutions not fit for purpose. Talk is cheap professor Soli, but at least Madi and Njundu outlined practical solutions to our dire situations and they criticized when its merited and also praised when merited unlike you and your village idiot friend Sidi Bojang suffering from amnesia and myopia respectively who criticize anything and everything Barrow but praised anything and everything Jammeh. Practice what you preach Soli if you want to be credible. Spread the word at all cost. Elaborate on the 237 landed properties, 14 companies, countless bank accounts etc, etc that Jammeh is claimed to owned.
Nasty Natty Dread,
Please learn the lessons. When there is an ongoing probe into what President Jammeh did, why can’t you wait for justice to be delivered, from both sides, those who incriminate him and those who have to defend themselves. Oh, you are so UNDEMOCRATIC not to perceive such trends in a law-abiding system? Do your silly head still make you to believe that President Jammeh is still guilty of all the allegations poised in his absence? You must be credulous to believe everything from its surface value.
Why call comrade SIDI BOJANG a village boy? I’m also a gvillage boy. One of my parents from the URR and another form the CRR. I was born and raised in the village , way in the provinces. But I feel very honoured to come from such an environment, learning from the honourability of my people, their hard work, self-esteem, self reliance and pride to live on their SWEAT! Are you from Bathurst(Banjul)? From S/Kunda, from the “anointed” municipalities? Where in the Gambia are you from? I’m happy if SIDI is a village boy. That sounds great of a humble man!
Correction.
Does your sill head………?
Babu Soli
Wow, wow, wow! Babu Soli is a man of contradiction. Barrow and his government are corrupt according to Soli, even though none of them were convicted by a competent court of that charge, but he can’t entertain the idea of Jammeh being guilty of any of the ugly financial crimes being revealed at the commission. Is that not a classic example of double standard or just reveal the bankruptcy of your argument in hailing the most corrupt individual in our nation’s history as a hero. You are not a credible man, nor are you credible in your assertions regarding the events or the people in this government whose good names you tried hard to destroy, while trying hard to defend a corrupt and unscrupulous semi educated idiot from Kanilai. I hope your double standard nature is not applied in your classroom which may affect your students in their course work.
Don’t forget what you said Babu, ”The learned should preserve the truth and spread the word at all cost” or
are you an exemption to that rule?
Natty Dread,
You don’t understand literature. The truth is, there is a commission probing into the legacies of President Jammeh. Until that corrupt-bloated commission comes out with its findings, all democratic minded people reserve their opinions. If you still believe President Jammeh was corrupt, that’s up to you. That’s your personal conviction which I don’t accept and share.
The corrupt bunch of your inept administrators talked about declaring their assets and finally erred on that. It reflects to the patriotic and non-conformist citizen that they are buying time to STEAL from government offers. Or they might not declare anything, since that would expose their naked corruption.
When will your Ousainou Darbo pay the Gambian people their money he owed them by evading taxes? When will the COMMISSION probe into the financial dealings of the (UN)REAL Estate dealer, the British Argos Watchman before he dressed in “presidential” clothing? It’s very easy to talk about democracy, but very hard to exercise and/or digest democratic virtues.
President Jammeh was/is indeed more educated than your dumb/numbed watchman who spent his days at the corridors of the Argos markets watching the white people while they enter and leave the premises.
Not all that Allah gives might be a blessing. This man is a curse, a nuisance and a waste of human resources. Corrupt, tribalist and veered with influence and family peddling. We are DOOMED. May Allah help us!
Natty Dread,
Read the article about ESSA BOKARR SEY the erstwhile President Jammeh archenemy who is just getting into his senses by defying the mannerisms of your INEFFICIENT administration at Cape Point….Search on Freedom Newspaper.
When a government knows the intellectual dimension of her people, it plays the card accordingly. Aren’t you disgraced at the same patriachic style of governance…..going to Mecca with families and buddies, curbing the constitutional clauses on the appointment of a VP until yesterday, deliberately appointing unqualified party affiliates, visiting and inviting Marabouts, asking mosques to pray for your cult, keeeping silent on key issues………?
Babu Soli
The man is entitled to his own opinions and convictions just as you, me or anyone else but that doesn’t make what he said the ultimate truth. You are only interested in spreading lies, innuendos, fabricated below the waist attacks but nothing of substance that will help our people better themselves. Why refer me to the gentleman’s article when you can’t bring yourself to refer me to the testimonies being given at the commission. Throw away the professor’s robe Babu, for you are unworthy of that noble title. Remember ”The learned should preserve the truth and spread the word at all cost” How can you be bereft of enlightenment? How can you allow hate to cloud your judgement like this? Yahya Jammeh is an evil man, a killer who doesn’t spare his own family members. Where is Sirreh Jammeh and his innocent brother? Yahya Jammeh’s own family members. Who killed them and why? Who ordered the killings of countless numbers of our citizens? May Almighty Allah help us find the truth of what happened to so many loved brethren.
Its coming out clear now Tonny gutters(Ghattas )came to gambia completely poor. THE allege letter of appointment to work for APPA was a classic Muhammed Bazzi mechanaization.